Safety-closure device

ABSTRACT

The invention contemplates selectively openable closure means that is tamperproof, in the sense that a correct sequence of two deliberate and independent movements of two parts is necessary in order to achieve access to the contents of the bottle or the like which is protected by the closure. The specific construction that is described involves a bottle with a neck having a circular opening, and a closure cap having a cylindrical wall to overlap and lock to the outer surface of the neck. The closed end of the cap has an axially tapering yieldable section which engages the circular neck opening in the course of closing the bottle. The nature of the lock is such as to preload the yieldable engagement and to utilize the resilient action to retain the lock and to establish a liquid seal of the bottle contents.

llnited States Patent [72] Inventor William James Landen Cheshire, Conn.[21] AppLNo. 101,879 [22] Filed Dec.28, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 19,197]['73] Assignee Eyelet Specialty Company Wallingford, Conn.Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 70,749, Sept. 9, 1970.

[54] SAFETY-CLOSURE DEVICE 27 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 215/9, 215/40, 215/44 [51] lnt.Cl A61j 1/00, B65d 55/02 [50]FieldofSearch 2l5/9,44, 40, 98; 220/40 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,435,975 4/1969 Weigand 215/9 Primary Examiner-George T.Hall Attorney-Sandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde ABSTRACT: The inventioncontemplates selectively openable closure means that is tamperproof, inthe sense that a correct sequence of two deliberate and independentmovements of two parts is necessary in order to achieve access to thecontents of the bottle or the like which is protected by the closure.

The specific construction that is described involves a bottle with aneck having a circular opening, and a closure cap having a cylindricalwall to overlap and lock to the outer surface of the neck. The closedend of the cap has an axially tapering yieldable section which engagesthe circular neck opening in the course of closing the bottle. Thenature of the lock is such as to preload the yieldable engagement and toutilize the resilient action to retain the lock and to establish aliquid seal of the bottle contents.

SAFETY-CLOSURE DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part of mycopending application Ser. No. 70,749, filed Sept. 9, 1970.

This invention relates to tamperproof selectively openable closuredevices, as for closure of bottles containing liquid or solid matterthat might be injurious when in unauthorized hands.

With recent growth in the use of drugs, pills, and the like, each withits specific prescribed purpose for a particular member of a household,there has been a corresponding increase in the chances for unauthorizedaccess, particularly access by small children. And it has becomeincreasingly difficult, if not impossible, to supervise children enoughto assure against their access to materials that can be harmful to them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a tamperprooffeature in containers for materials of the character indicated.

A specific object is to achieve the above-stated object with aconstruction in which a correct sequence of independent motions of twoparts in a prerequisite for access to the contents of the container.

Another object is to achieve the foregoing objects with a simpleconstruction, involving the addition of no parts, beyond the containerand its closure.

A further object is to provide a closure meeting the above objects andestablishing a liquid seal.

A specific object is to provide a bottle and cap with integral lockingand sealing formations which inherently achieve all the foregoingobjects.

Another specific object is to achieve the stated objects using resilientdeformable action of one of the parts to establish both a resilientlypreloaded seal and resiliently preloaded lock retention; morespecifically, it is an object to achieve smooth and continuouslyapplicable resilient reaction-force development, over the axial range ofrelative positions of the parts, in the course of establishing lockingand scaling functions.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention willbe pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a readingof the following specification in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only,illustrative and preferred forms of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective showing a bottle, above whichclosure means of the invention is poised for application;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary view in eleva tion, certainparts being broken away and shown in section; and

FlGS. 3, 41, 5 and 6 are views similar to the cap of FIG. 2 toillustrate modifications, PK]. 6 being on an enlarged scale, for abetter showing of proportions.

Referring to FlGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention is shown inapplication to a bottle 10 and to a selectively removable closure cap 11therefor. The bottle 11) may be of any suitable material but isconveniently of glass, being integrally formed with a reduced neck 12having a circular axialend opening to be selectively opened and closedby the cap 11. The bottle 10 is shown to be further integral withbayonettype locking formations 13, 13' which project radially outwardlyat angularly spaced locations on the neck 12.

The cap 11 is of deformable material such as a plastic having goodmemory, good flexural properties, a low coefficient of friction andrelative inertness to most household chemicals; such materials includepolypropylene and polyethylene, each of which lends itself to injectionmolding of the cap 11.

The cap 11 is generally cup shaped, comprising an outer cylindrical wallportion 14 which is relatively thick (and therefore relatively rigid)and which telescopically overlaps the neck 12. The portion 14 includesangularly spaced integral inwardly projecting lugs 15, forbayonet-locking engagement with the neck formations 13, 13'. The closedend of the cap is preferably relatively thin, to permit localdeformation at a converging taper zone 16, as will be explained indetail.

In the form shown, the converging taper 16 is generally frustoconical,having limiting radii R R, which straddle the radius R of the circularopening of the bore 17 of neck 12. Taper 16 is integral with a shortcylindrical portion 18 which is connected to outer wall 14 by a shortannulus 19; the inner end of taper 16 is closed by an opposing taper 20,substantially matching the axial extent of taper 16. In FIG. 2, or marksthe taper angle.

In locked condition, the cap lugs 15 engage the recesses or undersides21 of the formations 13, 13' and in this condition the taper 16 hasengaged the neck bore 17, and is radially inwardly deformed thereby.Since cap 11 is of low-friction material, the compliant reaction to suchdeformation produces an axially separating force between neck 12 and cap11, and this force resiliently loads and retains the bayonet engagementat 15-21. The same resilient action radially out wardly loads the taper16 in its contact with bore 17, thus establishing a liquid-retainingseal of the contents of the bottle 11).

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, cam means areprovided in the formations l3, l3, 15, to permit the resilientdeformations to take place in the course of the partial rotation whichis involved in setting the bayonet lock. Such cam action is preferablyoperative for one direction of rotation (lock-setting), and not for theopposite direction of rotation, as will be explained.

As shown, each of the lugs 15 of the cap is provided with cam ramp 22,of rise D,and the bayonet formations 13, 13' are similarly characterizedby cam ramps, as at 23. The ramps 22, 23 will be understood to engage inthe course of clockwise cap rotation on the bottle. Preferably, theaxially offset extent D between the open end of neck 12 and thelug-seating surface 21 exceeds the corresponding offset D for initialengagement of cam means 22, 23, and the latter engagement occurs at orjust beyond the axial location of initial taper engagement, at 16, 17Also, the bayonet surface 21 is preferably axially offset to asubstantial extent D, from the peak of cam 23, to establish awell-defined shoulder 24 against which the back side 24 of lug 15 willinterfere, should one attempt to remove a locked cap through purelycounterclockwise torque. i

In use, an open bottle is closed by axially applying the cap 11 at anangular position such that lugs 15 pass between the respective bayonetformations 13, 13'; such axial insertion will be free until initialtaper contact at 16, 17. At this point, cam means 22, 23 are insufficient register to engage upon clockwise rotation of cap 11. In thecourse of such rotation, lug 15 rides up and over the peak of cam 23,against the relatively stiffly compliant yielding compression of thetapered section 16. Once over cam 23, lugs 15 snap back against surfaces21, at which point the lock action is resiliently loaded and acircumferential seal action is resiliently loaded, both due to taperdeformation at 16, 17, and to an extent proportional to the differencebetween offsets D and D As shown, at least one of the bayonet formations(13) includes an axial wall or rib 25, providing a firm limitingabutment for clockwise or lock-setting rotation.

The lock, thus set, remains positive and liquid sealing, and is secureagainst any attempted cap removal through purely counterclockwise(unthreading) torque. The only way to remove the cap 1 1 is by thedeliberate further action of axially displacing cap 11 into furtheroverlap with neck 12, until lugs 15 clear the peaks of cams 23. Suchaxial displacement is against elevated compressional deformation oftapering section 16 and must be held while thereafter rotating cap 11counterclockwise; such counterclockwise rotation will be limited by rib25 at a location where cap 11 is freely axially removable.

FIG. 3 shows a cap 30 similar to cap 11 except that a central cup-shapedsection 31, rather than the tapering section 20, is relied upon to closethe small end of the tapering section 32. Parts are otherwise the sameas for FIGS. 1 and 2 and therefore need not be further identified. Cupsection 31 establishes an enlarged flat central area 33 at the closedend of a substantially cylindrical wall section 34, thus enablingproduct identification to be formed in or applied to the cap, at area33. Locking and sealing action are as already described.

In FIG. 4, another cap 35 is shown wherein the reduced end of theyieldable tapering section 36 is closed by a flat radial surface orpanel 37. Again, locking and sealing action are as already described,and the differing external appearance may be relied upon for productidentification.

in the modification of FIG. 5, a cap 40, with yieldable tapering section41, is closed by a reverse-taper section 42 which establishes areference plane or abutment 43, axially offset to the extent D from theclosed end of the cap, and thus recessed within the concavity externallypresented by the formation 41. Such construction lends itself to thepress-fitted assembly of a disc or plug element 44, which may beappropriately marked for product identification. Disc 44 is shown asgenerally cylindrical, of thickness substantially D and with a smallradially outward bead 45 near its lower edge. It will be understood thatforce fit application of disc 44 to cap 40 will drive head 45 past theplane of the radial annulus 46, causing a slight deforming bulge 47beneath said plane, for secure retention of disc 44, regardless of theuse of cap 40 to selectively open and close a bottle 10.

In the modification of FIG. 6, which represents the form which ipresently prefer, the one-piece molded-plastic cap 50 comprises acylindrical outer body 51, with integral internal locking formationsnear the open end; the other end is closed by a first annular portion 52which extends radially inward and axially downward at an inclinationangle [3, a second annular portion 53 which extends substantiallyaxially from the radially inner limit of portion 52, and a third annularportion or taper section 54 which extends radially inward and axiallydownward (at the relatively gentle taper angle or already defined) tojuncture with the flat radial surface or panel 55.

The invention will be seen to achieve the stated objects and to providea tamperproof feature without adding to the number of required parts.Furthermore, preloaded liquid sealing and preloaded locking action arethe inherent result of the described coaction. Liquid sealing isbelieved to be promoted by radial compression of the yieldable tapersection (16, 32, 36, 41) and by an accompanying axial distentionthereof, resulting in both axial and angular wiping contact in thecourse of establishing the seal. in an illustrative actual employment ofmy invention, using a taper a at 16 to close a circular bottle openingof r-inch diameter, the radially inward displacement in the course ofcam lift was substantially 0.017 inch and after snapback to retainedlocking at 15, 21, the residual radially inward displacement of tapersection 16 was substantially 0.010 inch. This 0.0l0-inch displacementwas adequate to establish a stiffly resilient preload on both thelocking and sealing functions.

More specifically, for the case of the preferred form of FIG. 6, thesectional thicknesses and sectional extents of the various integrallyconnected body and bottom parts 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 are chosen andproportioned to achieve a plurality of cooperating functions wherein theaxial resultant of resilient reaction forces is smoothly andcontinuously applicable, over the axial range of relative positions ofthe parts, in the course of establishing locking and scaling functions.Preferably, the thinnest wall section occurs at the adjacent wallsections 53, 54 which are relied upon for radially inward deformation;the panel 55 may be as thin as sections 53, 54 but is preferablythicker, to provide a reacting compressional stiffness, for radialreference of the lower (smaller) end of the tapering section 54; and theannular portion 52 is considerably thicker (e.g., substantially twice asthick as the sections 53, 54) to provide (a) a relatively stifflycompliant axial deflection characteristic over essentially the range Dof its normal deflection and (b) a firm coaxial positioning referencefor the upper end of the thin section 53 (and thus for all the partsthereby suspended, i.e., portions 53, 54, 55). Typically, for a closure50 of overall l.24-inch diameter, and for the indicated typical 6-inchbottle opening, the outer body or wall 51 is of 0.050-inch thickness,

the section 52 is of 0.030-inch thickness, the thin sections 53, 54 areof 0.0l5-inch thickness, and the panel 55 is of 0.025- inch thickness;the angles a and B are of substantially 20 and 15, respectively, and theaxial extent of section 53 is preferably at least substantially theaxial extent of section 54.

FIG. 6 also indicates a preferred formation of the mouth of thecontainer bore, as indicated by fragmentary phantom outline of neck 12'with a bore 17 having a beveled or chamfered mouth formation 56. Theformation 56 is shown as a frustoconical taper extending at aconvergence angle 6, from a larger radius R, to a smaller radius R,,,namely the radius of bore 17'. The convergence angle 8 is preferablysubstantially less than the angle a of cap taper 54, and the radius R,is intermediate the unstressed radii R,, R of the cap 50; also, theaxial extent D of the taper 56 is sufficient to assure that under nocircumstances will the cylindrical wall portion 53 ever become a plug byentering the cylindrical bore 17', being rather limited only to partialentry into the tapered counterbore or chamfer 56. Typically, for the capof FIG. 6, the angle 6 is substantially 10.

In operation, commencing with the unstressed condition displayed in FIG.6, initial bottleneck interference (at the outer limit R of the taperedcounterbore 56) strikes taper section 54 at an axially intermediatelocation, above the plane of panel 55, with a circumferentiallycontinuous, essentially circular, line contact. Axially downward driveof the closure 50 onto the bottle reduces diameter of the juncturebetween sections 53, 54 causing section 53 to adopt a convergent taper,in approach to the reduced taper of section 54, and also in approach tothe counterbore taper 56. The cantilevered suspension of section 52 fromwall 51 is stressed axially deflect, within the range D As the tapeangle a reduces, in the course of the indicated deflections, the locusof bottleneck contact shifts axially, with a resulting resilientlyloaded wipe action which serves to locally clean the contactingsurfaces, for greater assurance of seal effectiveness. Initially, theshift of this locus is upward along taper 54 until the juncture 57between surfaces 53, 54 reaches the outer limit R of the bottle mouth56; further axial depression of cap 60 on neck 12' causes the circularprofile of juncture 57 to ride the tapered counterbore 56, beingradially resiliently compressed in the course of such depression. Thewipe action involves successive upward and downward strokes as theclosure 50 is caused first to ride the peak of earns 23, and then toretract to the axially locked reference or lug-seating engagement at 21.

By providing the steep taper [3 at 52, there is assurance of aconsistency and smoothness of developing axial reaction force, as afunction of deflection within the range D even though such force may bethe reaction between counterbore 55 and the radially compressed juncture57; no further deflection is needed at 52, so that the truncated cone ofsection 52 is never displaced past its dead center or flattenedcondition, and there is no discontinuity in that part of the deflectioncharacteristic which is utilized. By providing the acute-anglerelationship, (i.e., the relatively small angle a) between thegeometrical cylinder and cone of sections 53, 54, in the context ofapproximately equal axial extents of sections 53, 54, there is assurancethat their radially inward deflection under neck-contactingcircumstances will occur over the generally central region of thecombined axial extent, i.e., not primarily characterized by a localradially inward bulge at the immediate vicinity of neck contact; stressreversals at the zone of contact are thus muted, with resultantlongevity for the product and its effectiveness.

While the invention has been described in detail for the preferred formsshown, it will be understood that modifica tions may be made withoutdeparture from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Tamperproof selectively openable closure means, comprising a bodyincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening, said cap and the exteriorof said neck having coacting telescoping parts for removably securingthe same, and said cap and the bore of said neck having coactingtelescoping parts including radially extending yieldable means havingcircumferentially continuous resiliently loaded contact with saidopening when said cap is in secured position; said cap being ofsingle-piece integral molded-plastic construction, comprising an outergenerally cylindrical portion having the means for removable securing tothe exterior of said neck, and a closure for which the cross sectiondefines a continuous integral connection of elements between diametricalextremes at one end of said cylindrical portion; said connectionsincluding in succession a generally radially inward flange, a generallyaxially downward flange, a generally downward converging taper at anacute angle to the direction of said axially downward flange, and aclosure of the bottom end of said taper; said taper being of radialinner and outer limits spanning the circle of the neck opening andconstituting the cap part having telescoping fit with the bore of saidneck and said taper and said axially downward flange havingsubstantially the same uniform relatively thin and yieldable thickness,whereby in the course of radially inward resilient deflection of saidtaper, the taper is reduced and the adjacent end of said axial flange isinwardly converged to further reduce the acute angle between said taperand said axial flange.

2. Closure means according to claim 1, in which the securing telescopingportion of said cap is relatively thick and rigid, the remainingelements of said cap being relatively thin and flexible.

3. Closure means according to claim 2, in which the angle of taper ofsaid configuration is in the order of a. Closure means according toclaim 1, in which said tapering configuration is substantiallyfrustoconical, with a cupped formation closing the small end of thefrustoconical portion.

5. Closure means according to claim 4, in which said cupped formation isgenerally frustoconical in the opposite direction of taper of said firstfrustoconical portion.

6. Closure means according to claim 4, in which said cupped formationcomprises a generally cylindrical wall with a generally radial centralclosure at one end, the other end of said cylindrical wall being joinedto said frustoconical portion,

7. Closure means according to claim 6, in which said frustoconical andcylindrical wall portions are axially substantially coextensive.

8. Closure means according to claim 6, in which said cylindrical wallportion is of lesser axial extent than said frustoconical portionwhereby said central closure defines an externally accessible axial stopwithin said frustoconical portion, and a plug member positioned againstsaid stop and retained within said frustoconical portion.

9. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said taperingconfiguration is substantially frustoconical, and a substantially flatradial wall integrally joined to the small end of the frustoconicalportion and closing the same.

10. Tamperproof selectively openable closure means, comprising a bottleincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening, said cap having an outercylindrical portion having telescoping overlap with said neck, and saidneck and cap having bayonet-locking formations at the region of theiroverlap, whereby first axial and then rotary manipulation are requiredto secure the cap to the neck; said cap being of single-piecemolded-plastic construction and having a closure wall which defines acontinuous integral connection of elements between diametrical extremesat one end of said cylindrical portion; said connections including insuccession a generally radially inward flange, a generally axiallydownward flange having a radially yieldable downward end, a generallydownwardly converging tapering section at an acute angle to thedirection of said axially downward flange and depending therefrom, and aclosure of the bottom end of said tapering section; said taperingsection having initial interference with the circular neck opening priorto achieving the ultimate axial overlap which represents full securingof the cap to the neck, whereby when fully secured the tapering sectionis resiliently and radially inwardly stressed into closing and sealingcontact with said neck.

11. Closure means according to claim 10, in which said bayonet-lockingformations include an axial notch at an angular location following anangular region of axial-rise cam action, the axial depth of said notchbeing effectively less than the effective axial rise of said cam action,said interference occurring substantially at the region of initial camaction, whereby after notch engagement said cap is retained on said neckwith radially and axially resilient loading of the seal of said taperingsection at the circular end of the neck opening.

12. Selectively openable closure and seal means, comprising a bodyincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening; said cap being ofsingle-piece molded-plastic construction having open and closed ends andhaving an outer wall sized to fit over said neck, and said cap and neckhaving coacting telescoping engagement parts for removably securing thesame; the closed end of said cap comprising a relatively thin deformableradially limited and axially more extensive tapering section for sealcontact with the end of the neck opening, the radial limits of saidsection being respectively less than and greater than the radius of theneck opening, means closing the smaller axial end of said section, andaxially and radially resilient means connecting said outer wall to thelarger axial end of said section.

13. The closure and seal means of claim 12, in which said last-definedmeans comprises a first annular downwardly convergent section, and asecond annular generally cylindrical section connecting the firstannular section to said tapering section.

14. The closure and seal means of claim 13, in which the thickness ofsaid cylindrical section and of said tapering section are substantiallythe same.

15. The closure and seal means of claim 14, in which the thickness ofsaid first annular section is in the order of double that of saidtapering section.

16. The closure and seal means of claim 12, in which the thickness ofall parts of the closed end of said cap is substantially less than thatof said outer wall.

17. The closure and seal means of claim 13, in which the axial extent ofsaid cylindrical section is in the order of magnitude of the axialextent of said tapering section.

18. The closure and seal means of claim 17, in which said axial extentsare substantially the same.

19. The closure and seal means of claim 13, in which said first annularsection is generally frustoconical, with a slope down from a radialplane; said slope being of such magnitude, over the radial extentbetween said wall and said cylindrical section as to provide asubstantial range of axially compliant suspension of said cylindricaland tapering sections with respect to said outer wall, the compliance ofsaid suspension smoothly rising as a function of approach to aradial-flat condition of said first annular section.

20. The closure and seal means of claim 19, wherein the angle of saidslope, in the unstressed condition is in the order of 15.

21. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said generally radiallyinward flange is generally frustoconical, with a slope down from aradial plane; said slope being of such magnitude, over the radial extentbetween said wall and said generally axially downward flange as toprovide a substantial range of axially compliant suspension of saidaxially downward flange and taper with respect to said outer wall, thecompliance of said suspension smoothly rising as a function of approachto a radial-flat condition of said generally radially inward flange.

22. Closure means according to claim 21, wherein the slope angle of saidgenerally radially inward flange, in the unstressed condition, is in theorder of 15.

23. Closure means according to claim 1 wherein the axialend opening ofsaid neck is a tapered counterbore of tapered slope less than that ofsaid downwardly converging taper.

24. Closure means according to claim 23, in which the counterbore isfrustoconical with a substantially 10 slope and said converging taper isfrustoconical with a substantially slope.

25. Closure means according to claim 23, wherein the maximum radius ofsaid counterbore is intermediate the unstressed maximum and minimumradii of said converging taper, and wherein the minimum radius of saiddownwardly converging taper is at least no greater than the minimumradius of said counterbore.

26. Selectively operable closure and seal means, comprising a bodyincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening having a taperingcounterbore at a first acute angle to the axis of the opening, and a capfor selectively opening and closing said opening; said cap being ofsingle-piece molded-plastic construction having open and closed ends andhaving an outer wall sized to fit over said neck, and said cap and neckhaving coacting telescoping engagement parts for removably securing thesame; the closed end of said cap comprising a relatively thin defonnableclosure section including an axially extending downward flange and agenerally downward converging tapering flange at a second acute angle tothe axis of said cap and therefore to the direction of said axiallydownward flange, said cap including an integral closure of the bottomend of said tapering flange, said first acute angle being substantiallyless than said second acute angle, and the radial range of said taperingflange overlapping the radial range of said tapering counterbore; andaxially resilient means integrally connecting said outer wall to theupper axial end of said section.

27. A combined closure-cap and seal construction, comprising asingle-piece of molded plastic having open and closed ends and an outergenerally cylindrical annular wall to flt over a bottleneck intelescoped relation therewith, the bore of said wall integrallyincluding radially inward lug formations for removably securableconnection to cooperating neck formations, the closed end of said capcomprising a relatively thin deformable closure section including anaxially extending downward flange and a generally downward convergingtapering flange at an acute angle to the axis of said cap and thereforeto the direction of said generally downward flange, said cap includingan integral closure of the bottom end of said tapering flange, andaxially resilient means integrally connecting said outer wall to theupper axial end of said section.

1. Tamperproof selectively openable closure means, comprising a bodyincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening, said cap and the exteriorof said neck having coacting telescoping parts for removably securingthe same, and said cap and the bore of said neck having coactingtelescoping parts including radially extending yieldable means havingcircumferentially continuous resiliently loaded contact with saidopening when said cap is in secured position; said cap being ofsingle-piece integral moldedplastic construction, comprising an outergenerally cylindrical portion having the means for removable securing tothe exterior of said neck, and a closure for which the cross sectiondefines a continuous integral connection of elements between diametricalextremes at one end of said cylindrical portion; said connectionsincluding in succession a generally radially inward flange, a generallyaxially downward flange, a generally downward converging taper at anacute angle to the direction of said axially downward flange, and aclosure of the bottom end of said taper; said taper being of radialinner and outer limits spanning the circle of the neck opening andconstituting the cap part having telescoping fit with the bore of saidneck and said taper and said axially downward flange havingsubstantially the same uniform relatively thin and yieldable thickness,whereby in the course of radially inward resilient deflection of saidtaper, the taper is reduced and tHe adjacent end of said axial flange isinwardly converged to further reduce the acute angle between said taperand said axial flange.
 2. Closure means according to claim 1, in whichthe securing telescoping portion of said cap is relatively thick andrigid, the remaining elements of said cap being relatively thin andflexible.
 3. Closure means according to claim 2, in which the angle oftaper of said configuration is in the order of 20*.
 4. Closure meansaccording to claim 1, in which said tapering configuration issubstantially frustoconical, with a cupped formation closing the smallend of the frustoconical portion.
 5. Closure means according to claim 4,in which said cupped formation is generally frustoconical in theopposite direction of taper of said first frustoconical portion. 6.Closure means according to claim 4, in which said cupped formationcomprises a generally cylindrical wall with a generally radial centralclosure at one end, the other end of said cylindrical wall being joinedto said frustoconical portion.
 7. Closure means according to claim 6, inwhich said frustoconical and cylindrical wall portions are axiallysubstantially coextensive.
 8. Closure means according to claim 6, inwhich said cylindrical wall portion is of lesser axial extent than saidfrustoconical portion whereby said central closure defines an externallyaccessible axial stop within said frustoconical portion, and a plugmember positioned against said stop and retained within saidfrustoconical portion.
 9. Closure means according to claim 1, in whichsaid tapering configuration is substantially frustoconical, and asubstantially flat radial wall integrally joined to the small end of thefrustoconical portion and closing the same.
 10. Tamperproof selectivelyopenable closure means, comprising a bottle including a neck with acircular axial-end opening, and a cap for selectively opening andclosing said opening, said cap having an outer cylindrical portionhaving telescoping overlap with said neck, and said neck and cap havingbayonet-locking formations at the region of their overlap, whereby firstaxial and then rotary manipulation are required to secure the cap to theneck; said cap being of single-piece molded-plastic construction andhaving a closure wall which defines a continuous integral connection ofelements between diametrical extremes at one end of said cylindricalportion; said connections including in succession a generally radiallyinward flange, a generally axially downward flange having a radiallyyieldable downward end, a generally downwardly converging taperingsection at an acute angle to the direction of said axially downwardflange and depending therefrom, and a closure of the bottom end of saidtapering section; said tapering section having initial interference withthe circular neck opening prior to achieving the ultimate axial overlapwhich represents full securing of the cap to the neck, whereby whenfully secured the tapering section is resiliently and radially inwardlystressed into closing and sealing contact with said neck.
 11. Closuremeans according to claim 10, in which said bayonet-locking formationsinclude an axial notch at an angular location following an angularregion of axial-rise cam action, the axial depth of said notch beingeffectively less than the effective axial rise of said cam action, saidinterference occurring substantially at the region of initial camaction, whereby after notch engagement said cap is retained on said neckwith radially and axially resilient loading of the seal of said taperingsection at the circular end of the neck opening.
 12. Selectivelyopenable closure and seal means, comprising a body including a neck witha circular axial-end opening, and a cap for selectively opening andclosing said opening; said cap being of single-piece molded-plasticconstruction having open and closed ends and having an outer wall sizedto fit over said neck, and said cap and neck having coaCting telescopingengagement parts for removably securing the same; the closed end of saidcap comprising a relatively thin deformable radially limited and axiallymore extensive tapering section for seal contact with the end of theneck opening, the radial limits of said section being respectively lessthan and greater than the radius of the neck opening, means closing thesmaller axial end of said section, and axially and radially resilientmeans connecting said outer wall to the larger axial end of saidsection.
 13. The closure and seal means of claim 12, in which saidlast-defined means comprises a first annular downwardly convergentsection, and a second annular generally cylindrical section connectingthe first annular section to said tapering section.
 14. The closure andseal means of claim 13, in which the thickness of said cylindricalsection and of said tapering section are substantially the same.
 15. Theclosure and seal means of claim 14, in which the thickness of said firstannular section is in the order of double that of said tapering section.16. The closure and seal means of claim 12, in which the thickness ofall parts of the closed end of said cap is substantially less than thatof said outer wall.
 17. The closure and seal means of claim 13, in whichthe axial extent of said cylindrical section is in the order ofmagnitude of the axial extent of said tapering section.
 18. The closureand seal means of claim 17, in which said axial extents aresubstantially the same.
 19. The closure and seal means of claim 13, inwhich said first annular section is generally frustoconical, with aslope down from a radial plane; said slope being of such magnitude, overthe radial extent between said wall and said cylindrical section as toprovide a substantial range of axially compliant suspension of saidcylindrical and tapering sections with respect to said outer wall, thecompliance of said suspension smoothly rising as a function of approachto a radial-flat condition of said first annular section.
 20. Theclosure and seal means of claim 19, wherein the angle of said slope, inthe unstressed condition is in the order of 15*.
 21. Closure meansaccording to claim 1, in which said generally radially inward flange isgenerally frustoconical, with a slope down from a radial plane; saidslope being of such magnitude, over the radial extent between said walland said generally axially downward flange as to provide a substantialrange of axially compliant suspension of said axially downward flangeand taper with respect to said outer wall, the compliance of saidsuspension smoothly rising as a function of approach to a radial-flatcondition of said generally radially inward flange.
 22. Closure meansaccording to claim 21, wherein the slope angle of said generallyradially inward flange, in the unstressed condition, is in the order of15*.
 23. Closure means according to claim 1 wherein the axial-endopening of said neck is a tapered counterbore of tapered slope less thanthat of said downwardly converging taper.
 24. Closure means according toclaim 23, in which the counterbore is frustoconical with a substantially10* slope and said converging taper is frustoconical with asubstantially 20* slope.
 25. Closure means according to claim 23,wherein the maximum radius of said counterbore is intermediate theunstressed maximum and minimum radii of said converging taper, andwherein the minimum radius of said downwardly converging taper is atleast no greater than the minimum radius of said counterbore. 26.Selectively operable closure and seal means, comprising a body includinga neck with a circular axial-end opening having a tapering counterboreat a first acute angle to the axis of the opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening; said cap being ofsingle-piece molded-plastic construction having open and closed ends andhaving an outer wall sized to fit over said neck, and said cap and neckhaving coacting telescoping engagement parts for removably securing thesame; the closed end of said cap comprising a relatively thin deformableclosure section including an axially extending downward flange and agenerally downward converging tapering flange at a second acute angle tothe axis of said cap and therefore to the direction of said axiallydownward flange, said cap including an integral closure of the bottomend of said tapering flange, said first acute angle being substantiallyless than said second acute angle, and the radial range of said taperingflange overlapping the radial range of said tapering counterbore; andaxially resilient means integrally connecting said outer wall to theupper axial end of said section.
 27. A combined closure-cap and sealconstruction, comprising a single-piece of molded plastic having openand closed ends and an outer generally cylindrical annular wall to fitover a bottleneck in telescoped relation therewith, the bore of saidwall integrally including radially inward lug formations for removablysecurable connection to cooperating neck formations, the closed end ofsaid cap comprising a relatively thin deformable closure sectionincluding an axially extending downward flange and a generally downwardconverging tapering flange at an acute angle to the axis of said cap andtherefore to the direction of said generally downward flange, said capincluding an integral closure of the bottom end of said tapering flange,and axially resilient means integrally connecting said outer wall to theupper axial end of said section.